Liberty's Satou Sabally stepping away from team while continuing to recover from head injury

New York Liberty forward Satou Sabally will “be away from the team for a little bit,” head coach Chris DeMarco told reporters before Thursday’s game versus the Los Angeles Sparks.

“She’s going to be away from the team for a little bit,” DeMarco said, via the New York Post’s Madeline Kenney. “It’s her second significant head injury in the past 12 months. So, as with all our players, health will always be the focus, and we look forward to getting her back. She’s just going to take some time right now.”

While Sabally cleared concussion protocol, she was still feeling effects of the injury. On the WNBA injury report, her status changed from “concussion protocol” to “head injury” on Wednesday.

Sabally, 28, hasn’t played since June 23 while recovering from a concussion sustained in an 87-76 win over the Las Vegas Aces. During the first quarter, she was hit in the face by an elbow from NaLyssa Smith while the two were going for a rebound.

The seven-year veteran fell to the court, but eventually got up without assistance and came out of the game. She returned in the second quarter, but left again after playing four minutes and did not re-enter the game.

As DeMarco mentioned, that was the second concussion Sabally has suffered in the past year. During Game 3 of the WNBA Finals with the Phoenix Mercury, Sabally collided with Aces defender Kierstan Bell with her head hitting Bell’s knee. Sabally continued experiencing concussion symptoms, which kept her from playing in Unrivaled’s second season with Phantom BC.

DeMarco did not offer a timetable for when Sabally could return, saying, “We’ll get there.”

“This is under the guidance of our performance team,” he added, via the Post. “But just for now, she’s just taking some time away, making sure she’s healthy.”

In 13 games this season (five starts) with the Liberty, Sabally has averaged 10.4 points and 2.8 rebounds, far below her career averages. During her seven seasons, she has scored 15.4 points per game while grabbing 6.4 rebounds and dishing out 3.2 assists. Sabally signed a two-year, $1.67 million contract with New York before this season.

After Thursday’s game, the Liberty have nine games remaining on their regular-season schedule. At 20-14, they are currently tied with the Dallas Wings for the seventh seed in the WNBA standings and are virtually assured of making the playoffs. New York could still finish as high as third or get the league’s final postseason berth in eighth place.